Sunday, 26 May 2013

After
last week’s killing of Drummer Rigby, what is there for me to say that hasn’t
already been said far better by our political and religious leaders? We
continue to pray for him and his family.We pray for those who dream up and perpetrate
these terrible acts, whatever their belief or ideology.With our prayers we try to re-imagine a world in
which historic hatreds are being healed and people of all faiths and cultures
live together as friends. And we stand
alongside those of the Islamic faith who are feeling beleaguered, misunderstood
and afraid in the aftermath of last week’s events.

I
have been fortunate to live and work in two cities with great ethnic, cultural
and religious diversity. Fortunate, because I have learned a great deal from people
- Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu in particular - who have taken the trouble to befriend Christians by offering hospitality in
their places of worship, helping us to understand their life, giving time to discuss issues of faith and social
justice, being willing to make common cause in the pursuit of the common good.

But
it is the personal, intimate encounters that leave the most vivid memories.In Coventry, I remember how one afternoon, I
was called across to the Cathedral by someone who wanted to see a priest. You
never know what this request may be about. On this occasion it was an Asian
woman, a Muslim I think, who had just come out of the maternity ward with her
baby born 72 hours ago. She wanted to ‘present’ him to God in a holy place
before she took him home and asked if I would say prayers with them both.When we had done this, she pressed a banknote
in the infant’s tiny hand and helped him give it to me for the Cathedral. It
was an unforgettable moment.

In
Sheffield, I found myself on the rota to preach at a special service due to be
held on the very evening of 9/11. When external events suddenly create urgent theological
and spiritual imperatives, you tear up the sermon you had planned and start
again. Having to preach that night helped me to see how we must try to bring
Christians and Muslims together as soon as possible to make sure what had
happened in the US would not put good community relations in the UK at risk.

So
I asked one of the senior imams to come to the diocesan synod to give an
address. He opened by saying that as people of the Book, it was imperative that
all of us as children of Abraham should work together for understanding and
reconciliation in our world. Then he turned to the bishop and said: ‘You are a bishop
for us Muslims as well as for Christians. We look to you to help us all find the
ways of peace, and we thank you for the part you play as a spiritual leader in
the life of our city’. Since then, I have heard other leaders of faith
communities speak to us Christians in similar ways, but in the aftermath of the
terrible events of September 2001, it was especially potent and memorable.

Here in Durham, I recall how we used to be visited by an elderly blind imam
from Saudi Arabia who came to England each year to escape the searing
heat of the Saudi summer. He was a highly respected theologian and ethicist who
had taught clergy serving in the Great Mosque at Mecca. He used to stay with a
Muslim community in Newcastle, and once asked them to take him to their
favourite place in the North East. So they brought him to the Cathedral.

I
took him round on a tour. It took a long time because he wanted to know
everything, and relished the opportunity for some friendly dialogue across
faith, all of which had to be done through an interpreter. He especially loved
Cuthbert’s shrine where he said he strongly sensed the presence of a holy man,
just like we have in Islam. He gave me an Arabic-English Qur’an in which he had
marked up all the passages that speak positively about Christians. When I asked
about those that were negative he replied: ‘I can tell, coming here, that you
are all faithful people of the Book. Those other passages don’t refer to faithful
practising Christians’.

We
all have good stories to tell about encounters like these that affirm our
God-given common humanity – if, that is, we are willing to reach beyond the
narrow confines of our upbringing, histories and often lazy assumptions to take
the risk of meeting people who are different. The ability to live with
difference and embrace it is one of the most trustworthy indicators of being
adult. This has always been the case. But in contemporary Britain the need to
do this has become urgent. It doesn’t need this blog to point out the risks
posed to a stable democratic society by extremists who have their own reasons
for undermining it. They may be radicalised Muslims bent on indiscriminate killing and maiming. Or they may be people seduced into hating their Muslm neighbours by far-right Islamophobic tendencies on the other.

So
I warmly welcome the statement put out today by the Christian-Muslim Forum’s
co-chair who is also a senior officer of the Muslim Council of Britain. It
represents the best of the noble faith that is Islam. Notice the reference to 'our Archbishop'.

The Muslim communities of Britain, like the
rest of the country are shocked and appalled by the horrific murder in
Woolwich. The murderers chanted slogans during their heinous crime claiming to
do it in God’s name. Far from it. As our Prime Minister rightly concluded,
this is a betrayal of Islam. Indeed, this is a truly barbaric act that has no
basis in Islam and we condemn it utterly and unreservedly.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Lee
Rigby’s family and friends and especially his two year old son. Drummer Rigby
was a serving member of the Armed Forces. Muslims have long served in
this country’s Armed Forces, proudly and with honour. This attack on a member
of the Armed Forces is dishonourable, and no cause can justify this murder.

This crime has heightened tensions
throughout the country. The Muslim Council of Britain calls on all our communities, Muslim and
non-Muslim, to come together in solidarity to ensure the forces of hatred do
not prevail.

I am immensely grateful for the leadership
of our Archbishop during this most difficult time and thank leaders of all our
faith communities for their support. Your local Muslim communities will welcome
your support and I encourage you to knock at the doors of every mosque and
offer them your neighbourly love. The Christian Muslim Forum is here to support you in that endeavour.

As we pray for our nation to heal, we also
pray for peace and justice throughout the world. Amin.

About Me

Lives in retirement in Northumberland. Was Dean of Durham 2003-2015; before that, in cathedral and parish ministry, and in theological education.
Ponders and writes on faith, society, the North East, arts, books, Europe and anything else that intrigues.
My Durham Cathedral blog to 2015: http://decanalwoolgatherer.blogspot.co.uk.
This Northern Woolgatherer blog from 2015: http://northernwoolgatherer.blogspot.co.uk.
My archive of sermons and addresses: http://northernambo.blogspot.com.
Tweets at @sadgrovem.